Full Breakdown
Police Confrontation with ASU Cheerleader Eryn Bonner
By Drooid · · How we work
Incident Overview
On July 19, a police video captured Arizona State University senior Eryn Bonner being shoved to the ground and pinned to a police bicycle after she allegedly interfered with the arrest of two men on a Tempe sidewalk.
Legal Proceedings and Charges
Bonner was charged with two misdemeanor counts: disorderly conduct and hindering or interfering with police. Maricopa County prosecutors declined to pursue felony charges. The Tempe Police Department indicated that the officer’s use of force is under administrative review.
Official Responses
A Tempe Police Department spokesperson said the department is “probing the incident” and will evaluate the video and all evidence as part of an internal investigation. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office confirmed it will not seek felony charges against Bonner.
Criticism and Calls for Accountability
Attorney Benjamin Taylor, representing Bonner’s family, has called for the involved officer to be fired and accused the officer of inappropriate touching. Former Chandler police officer Josh Logan noted that if Bonner’s alleged punches were true, the force could be justified under policy, but he also highlighted safety concerns about the bicycle restraint.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This was very extreme, very excessive and there was no need for double pushes, jumping on top and multiple strikes,” — Benjamin Taylor, CAMPUS RALLY attorney
- “The city of Tempe would be very vindictive to try to charge her again after they see what this officer did,” — Benjamin Taylor, CAMPUS RALLY attorney
- “At the end you see his hand go on her buttocks which is very odd in this situation.” — Josh Logan
- “If you reach that level of active aggression, you’re within policy to perform closed fist strikes to the face,” — Josh Logan
- “There’s so many dangerous things on that bicycle that can cut and scrape. I have scars from cogwheels to chains and everything in between. It appears that she’s trying to move her off the bike and that happens in a split second in a very chaotic scene, and then they take her into custody and go from there,” — Josh Logan